Encouragement

It's that time of year again. As college students (or those who work with us), we're fully aware of the looming aspect of finals right around the corner. Even if we don't want to it's becoming easy to let assignments and due dates slip by in favor of doing things we're actually interested in. We look at our calendars every day, becoming increasingly frustrated when the deadline for our paper or exam does not seem to creep any closer. Sleep becomes a foreign concept to some and chances are that if you drink it, coffee is quickly becoming your new best friend.

Am I starting to sound familiar? Maybe it's just me, but either way it's important to find those quiet little moments and seek God first. Trust that He will meet us right where we are at. Even if we've begun to walk around like metaphorical "zombies" praying that just for once we can catch a break, it's also important to remember that God isn't going to give us anything we can't handle...despite the fact it may or may not always feel that way.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer & thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God...And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts & minds through Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:6-7)

- Tiffany

Being Single with Intentionality

Danielle sent in this really great article (from Relevant) full of encouragement about how to spend your/my/our "singlehood." What do you think about the article? How do you spend your time as a single? Do you feel you could accomplish the same things if you were/are in a relationship?

Being Single with Intentionality

Glow-in-the-dark Putt-Putt, laser tag, make-your-own ice cream sundaes and skee ball. A teenager’s dream, right? The funny thing is, these activities are not a part of a teenybopper’s weekend schedule—they are actual events I have attended as an adult in singles’ ministry. While I have been reluctantly traipsing through dark, musty rooms clutching a laser gun, some of my married friends have been hosting dinner parties, having cookouts and building face-to-face community. Although I might have left with a Chinese yo-yo bought with my skee ball winnings, my married friends left with a deeper sense of belonging.

Because I’m single, is it assumed that I automatically enjoy perpetual icebreakers? Am I not ready to graduate to the land of sophistication and supper clubs, or is this just the fate of a woman who has failed in the dating department? Somehow, these self-deprecating ideas don’t mesh with what I know to be true about the way God loves me. So, how then, does a single person navigate through this season, finding appropriate amounts of community while not subjecting themselves to feeling as though they are stuck in the land of lock-ins? My answer to this has been intentionality.

I have been diligent about being intentional with this time that I have been given. As Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 7:7, “I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” Paul is saying that single folks have a gift and like any gift, it needs to be used for the glory of the One who created them for that very purpose. Think outside of the box on this one.

While meeting someone for coffee and having deep, God-centered conversation could be the way you choose to use your time, don’t believe that it is the only way to do life with others. If you are an athlete, work out with someone regularly and be a constant source of friendship for them. Are you an artist? Take art lessons and get into the lives of the other people in the art community- people that you might not otherwise have gotten to know. Use your gift of free time as a single to do just what Paul suggests, “spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him”.

Although I live to cross things off of my daily “to do” list, resolution making and goal setting have never been things that come naturally to me. They are too long term and require too much accountability and discipline. While that is true, goal setting also gives this cautious soul the courage to do something that once seemed daunting. It challenges me to seek out my passions- things that might fall by the wayside because of other seemingly more important things like church sanctioned activities. Make the secular sacred through your intentionality and to God be the glory!

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Refining Silver

Lisa sent me this article from John Ritter's website:

Refining Silver- Author Unknown

REFINING AND PURIFYING SILVER- Author Unknown Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy, when I see my image in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

http://www.knowjesus.com/Encourage_refine.shtml

Zephaniah 3:17

^"17 For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Rest assured this week that someone really cherishes you.

Our Deepest Fear by Nelson Mandela

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

This speech by Nelson Mandela was brought up in one of our leadership meetings. My initial thoughts were, "Wow, that man can write a good speech. Really profound."
This weekend his words resonated in my head as I made decisions on how to act. I realized how I often miss the mark when it comes to being myself and instead present the person that people will like.

But, I am meant to manifest glory. Wow. What a gift.

- Anna